The following article presents the very latest information on Birth Control. If you have a particular interest in Birth Control, then this informative article is required reading.

Family planning is a necessity in our society today because of the fact that the earth’s resources are becoming less and less every year and in a study it is estimated that there would be 12 million infant births in 2025 alone. From 8 million in 2019 every year there is an increase of 1.004 million births.

Looking into these statistics the effectiveness of birth control as it relates the number of infant births per year is still pretty high. The campaign of different sectors of government has become more and more aggressive in the past few years targeting larger urban areas in big cities.

Even with the heightened awareness about the importance of family planning and birth control methods the effectiveness of the campaign still remains underwhelming in terms of results.

Some of the factors that may contribute to the lack of positive results of the campaign on birth control is the fact some people still are not aware of the different methods that are available to them. In the past it has been the problem for some government agencies to make people accept contraception because of the massive disagreement that Catholics showed saying that it is only God that can give and take people’s lives.

Of course these people are talking about abortion which in fact is not a form of contraception nor is it a form of family planning or birth control.

Abortion is in fact a crime in a lot of countries and most of the states of the US.

If people protests against birth control because they believe it is a form of abortion then that means they are under informed and that they are ignorant to the concept of Natural birth control. Because of the opposition that contraception received from moralists and religious orders, the concept of Natural birth control was introduced.

Though the confusion of the idea caused people not to believe in it at first, it has been regarded as more favorable by the anti-contraception groups.

It’s really a good idea to probe a little deeper into the subject of Birth Control. What you learn may give you the confidence you need to venture into new areas.

Contraception methods are what we call artificial birth control. These methods include condoms (both male and female), hormonal method, birth control pills, Intrauterine device, ligation, spermicide (chemical only), spermicide with sponge, injections (Depo-Provera) and Vasectomy.

These are just some of the most common methods that include the use of different devices or chemicals to prevent sperms and egg cells from meeting.

Recently it was known that not only is birth control effective in planning the family but it also effective in preventing sexually transmitted diseases and other infection in people.

Because some of the devices used in birth control prevent contact of skin in the reproductive organs, the chances of catching the infection are minimized if not totally eliminated. So aside for the health department campaigning for married couples to plan their family for the future, young couples are also requested to use protection to prevent the spread of Sexually transmitted diseases and/or early pregnancy(that is also a big issue not only in the United States but all over the world).

The effectiveness of birth control methods greatly rely on the cooperation of people who are directly or indirectly affected by the issue. It may not be enough to just talk about it but more on acting upon it and getting the results that are badly needed by the country and the people of this planet.

Of course, it’s impossible to put everything about Birth Control into just one article. But you can’t deny that you’ve just added to your understanding about Birth Control, and that’s time well spent.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

Never respond directly to any unsolicited email that asks you to update or verify your personal information. Banks, stores and other legitimate businesses will never ask you to give this information via email, particularly following the advent of phishing.

If there is any doubt as to whether or not the email is from who it purports to be, contact the company immediately to confirm and clarify the request for information. Be sure to call a phone number from your statement. Calling the phone number in the email is probably a direct line to the identity thief.

Never click on a link in any such email. To do so would be to risk downloading malicious Trojan horse spyware, which will install keyloggers in your computer system. This would provide hackers direct access to all the personal data stored on your computer, which they will use for their own nefarious financial gain.

Never, ever fill out forms contained in an email that request personal information. The mere request for this information should ring a loud alarm bell. Phishers are able to use HTML to design very official-looking email messages. Any information entered into these forms goes directly to the phisher

Never trust links contained in unsolicited email. Phishers have devised ways to spoof legitimate website links. Common tricks that are used include misspelling web addresses or using sub-domains that include the name of a legitimate business.

An email link can also be “masked” in such a way that it displays a very official looking text-link to a legitimate company’s website, but clicking on it will take you to the phisher’s web site.

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Spam Protection, keep reading.

Do not cut and paste the link contained in the message into your browser. Type the address of the legitimate company in a separate browser window, so as to bypass having to click on the link in a suspected phishing email.

Always be suspicious of impersonal email. Almost all email communication from legitimate businesses will contain some specific piece of personal information that is not readily available to anyone but you. An email from your bank, for example may include part of your account number.
Always keep in mind that here are malicious people out there who do nothing more than think up creative, innovative ways to get at your personal information.

Be sure to use anti-syware and anti-virus software, and keep these regularly updated. Anti-spam filter software may help eliminate or minimize the amount of phishing spam you will receive in your inbox.

Be very cautious of opening any emailed attachments you receive, even if they seem to be from an acquaintance.

Help catch the phishers by reporting any phishing attempts. Forward the phishing email to the company that is being spoofed. Also forward it to these email addresses as well:
spam@uce.gov and reportphishing@antiphishing.org. This information will be used by the Anti-Phishing Working Group to fight phishing. This organization is a coalition between the internet industry, and financial institutions and law enforcement.

Learn more and stay informed by visiting the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website: www.consumer.gov/idtheft.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

When most people think of Italian Food, what comes to mind is usually basic information that’s not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there’s a lot more to Italian Food than just the basics.

With so many different Italian food dishes it is hard to pick a favorite. However, for those who like risotto, Veneto is the region for you! Italian food varies greatly by region with each area presenting their own unique dishes and flavors. One of the most recognized Italian food dishes is Risotto and because of that Veneto is a must stop region for those travelers in Italy wanting to taste some excellent Italian food.

Risotto is most simply a rice dish cooked very precisely. It is one of the most commonly ordered appetizers at Italian food restaurants. Yet for its amazing popularity, it is also one of the most common Italian food dishes to be botched. The key to a good risotto is to first cook the rice briefly in olive oil or butter. It should be cooked until it is evenly coated and begins to turn translucent. After that, broth is added to the rice slowly, one spoonful at a time. The most defining quality of a risotto is that the rice is toasted. If the rice isn’t toasted than it’s not a risotto, no matter how fine the Italian food restaurant is that you’re in.

You can see that there’s practical value in learning more about Italian Food. Can you think of ways to apply what’s been covered so far?

There are many different variations on risotto because it can be made and served with so many different Italian food favorites. In Veneto the ingredients added to the risotto are determined by location. For instance, in areas closer to the coast it will be made with fish and other seafood. As you move in from the coast you will see risotto made with different vegetables like pumpkin, asparagus, and radicchio. It is also commonly seen made with frogs’ legs which appear in Italian food more than most people think.

The Veneto region is also home to some unique foods. The dishes here are heavier and rely on exotic spices and sauces. One unique dish that originated here and is quickly gaining popularity as an Italian food dish is pasta and beans. Beans are used in many dishes here due to their ready availability. This is also an area of Italy where anchovies and stockfish are used extensively in Italian food. However, fish is not the dish of choice here, being beaten out by meats and sausages. A favorite meat is sopressata which is a dry-cured salami. It gets its name from the fact that while drying it is often pressed with a weight and comes out looking flat. It is most often made with pork, but sometimes beef is used. Another favorite Italian food meat is garlic salami. The Italian food here is also reliant on some of the prized vegetables of the area. Veneto is especially known for their high quality red radicchio and their asparagus. One last dish that is unique to the area is a rice dish with young peas.

The Italian food of Veneto clearly breaks the mold. It is full of diversity from dishes made wholly with vegetables and rice, to some of the most famous sausages in the world. If a night of Italian food for you must include risotto, than Veneto is the place to be. If you consider yourself a sausage connoisseur than the Italian food of Veneto will again be a must taste for you. The region truly offers something for everyone!

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

Teenagers are facing the most critical stage in their life ? adolescence. At this stage, they experience the transition from childhood towards adulthood; in the process of transition, teens deal with lots of biological, emotional, social and psychological changes. Often, these changes make a life of a teenager miserable. There is a great desire to fit in, to be accepted for who they are, to find their true identity, and to realize their own strengths and weaknesses. This is where peer mentoring becomes a lot of help. It keeps the youth guided and makes them feel loved, cared for and accepted.

Features and of a Peer Mentoring Program

Peer mentoring is a kind of mentoring program, which matches older youths with younger ones. The former provide the latter with guidance, advice, and all forms of support they need to be able to meet challenges of adolescent life. The older youths do not only serve as mentors but as role models to the younger ones. They are not perfect but having been through the same stage and most likely, the same problems, predicaments, and challenges in their homes, school and community; they are in the position to provide friendly advice, positive influences, attention, and moral support to these younger teens.

Mentoring programs, either in schools, local communities, and youth organizations bear the following characteristics:

? Centered on the needs of the youth ? Every peer mentoring program is designed to meet the specific needs of the teens to be mentored. Those who come from broken homes, for example, may need more time for counseling and recreation activities that would help them divert their thoughts on sad experiences at home towards happy ones. Those with academic problems may require more time for tutorials.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

? Participants voluntarily join a peer mentoring program ? A big part of the success of peer mentoring lies on the voluntary participation of the mentor and the younger teens. The student must not be forced to attend the peer mentoring program as this would only make things more difficult for him. The student must first acknowledge the need to have a mentor, someone who is older, wider, and more experienced than him. Only upon acknowledging this need can he actively participate in the activities in the mentoring program.

? Mentors are bound by the responsibility to keep things confidential ? Trust is very important in building good relationship between the mentor and the student; thus, it is a must or the mentor to keep things that he and the student talks about confidential. Without trust, it would be hard for the person mentored to talk about the things he feels and thinks especially about very critical issues involving him, a close friend or his family.

Joining a Mentoring Program

Joining a peer mentoring program starts with the eagerness to be a part of a support group or program that is aimed at creating changes both on the life of the mentor and the younger person to be mentored.

If you want to be a mentor, first you must be prepared in all aspects. Do you have a plan on how to conduct peer mentoring? Do you know what to do when trying situations arise? Do you have the patience necessary for you to deal with persons who might be going through tough moments in their life? How would you handle issues such as early pregnancy, divorce, and drug addiction?

When you are ready, the next thing you should do is to look for a pee mentoring program that is suited to your interests. You can look for these in your school, local community and even online. You may also ask for your teachers, schoolmates, and friends’ recommendations. You can also ask the head of your local community church or youth organizations in your community or neighboring areas.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

Do you ever feel like you know just enough about Air Ambulance to be dangerous? Let’s see if we can fill in some of the gaps with the latest info from Air Ambulance experts.

If you or someone you love will be needing air ambulance transportation in the foreseeable future, then it is time to start doing a little homework. It is important to start compiling a list of air ambulance services that will be able to meet the needs. After comprising a list of potential air ambulance transport companies, it is time to compare costs. Just like any other business or service, prices will vary.

There are many variables that can affect the cost of air ambulance transport. You can receive quotes from contacting the air ambulance service company yourself or by contacting a broker. Do be aware that the broker will find the lowest cost possible, then add an additional fee for his or her services to the cost. Whenever possible, it is wise to deal directly with the air ambulance service company.

The type of aircraft needed for the transport will directly affect the cost of the air ambulance service. It is important to know the distance of the flight before deciding on a specific type of aircraft. Cost alone should not determine the aircraft used for transport of the patient.

Another factor that influences the cost of the air ambulance service is the number and type of medical staff needed for the flight. If the patient requires two trained people on board, the cost may be dramatically less than a patient requiring an entire specialized medical team.

Think about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Air Ambulance? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

Frequently, the cost of the air ambulance transport will include the fee for ground transportation to and from the aircraft. This is commonly referred to as bedside to bedside service. Also, the cost often includes the cost of any additional passengers where applicable.

Many private insurance companies will cover the cost of air ambulance transportation if it is deemed to be medically necessary. It is wise to check with your insurance provider before calling to make arrangements for the air ambulance transportation, if possible. If it is unable to prove coverage for the service before the time of the flight, secured payment is usually required. For most companies, acceptable forms of payment include major credit cards, wire transfers, certified checks, or money orders for the amount of the flight.

The actual cost of the air ambulance transport can range widely. Typically, the fees run between $10,000 and $100,000.

Due to the extreme expense of the air ambulance transport, it is advisable to compare costs whenever possible. If the patient has insurance coverage, learn the facts about what air ambulance transportation costs are covered and under what conditions. Dealing directly with the air ambulance service company can be a method for saving money by doing a little research on your own.

A broker can locate air ambulance service, but will charge additional fees. Be specific about details such as needed medical staff and type of aircraft when asking for quotes. Also, learn what specifics are included in the cost when making the decision to select one air ambulance service company over another. With a little research, patients and their family can get the best service at a great value.

If you’ve picked some pointers about Air Ambulance that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won’t really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don’t use it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

In today’s world, it seems that almost any topic is open for debate. While I was gathering facts for this article, I was quite surprised to find some of the issues I thought were settled are actually still being openly discussed.

Ballroom dancing competitions have been broadcast on television for years. Men and women of many different ages and nationalities dance in costumes ranging from elegant to sexy to fun and amusing competing for titles in all categories of Standard and Latin American Ballroom. Television aired these strictly ballroom dance competitions where professional dance judges determined the outcome and the audience were merely onlookers.

In the last couple years there has been a new twist added to the Ballroom competitions thanks to the “reality television.” craze. Television shows like So You Think You Can Dance?, Ballroom Bootcamp and Dancing With the Stars have hit the airwaves with a tremendous reaction from viewers. Millions tune in each week to watch and root for their favorites.

If you find yourself confused by what you’ve read to this point, don’t despair. Everything should be crystal clear by the time you finish.

Ballroom Bootcamp airs on TLC (The Learning Channel) and is a wonderful series where three everyday ordinary people from all walks of life are paired up with three professional dancers and given five weeks to learn either the Cha-Cha, the Waltz, The Tango, the Jive or the Rumba. At the end of the 5 weeks they are matched against each other in an authentic Ballroom Dance competition where the judges decide the winner.

So You Think You Can Dance?, the brainchild of Fox television has its judges (some of whom are also the show’s choreographers) go to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Atlanta and check out literally hundreds of dancers. Not all the dancers are ballroom dancers; many are students of jazz, break dancing, contemporary dance etcetera. Once the field has been reduced to the top 20 (10 men, 10 women) the dancers are paired up and the main competition begins. Each week each couple is given the dance they are to perform the following week. This may be one of the ballroom dances or they may draw one of the other dance forms, jazz, contemporary etcetera. They have 7 days to work with the choreographer and get their dance ready. The television viewers vote on their favorites and each week the judges decide who among the 3 lowest vote getting couples will leave the show.

Dancing With the Stars on ABC is one of the favorites among television dance competition shows. Dancing With the Stars pairs a professional ballroom dancer with a celebrity. There have been sports celebrities, football and basketball players, female wrestlers and boxers and even an Olympic speed skater, entertainers, singers, actors, television talk show hosts and even one contestant who had a prosthetic leg. Each week the celebrities have to learn at least one new dance. Towards the end there are weeks where they have to learn two dances in a week. These are strictly ballroom (both Standard and Latin American) dances. The judges who have all danced professionally critique each dance and score the dancers with a high score of 30 points being possible. After each show the audience votes on their favorites either by phone or online. The audience votes count for 50% of the total with the judges scores accounting for the other 50% and each week the couple with the lowers score is sent home.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

You should be able to find several indispensable facts about Mentoring in the following paragraphs. If there’s at least one fact you didn’t know before, imagine the difference it might make.

Being a guide for someone is definitely not an easy task. You have to be experienced and wise enough to be able to share knowledge and wisdom, and moreover, you need to be able to know how to share your knowledge and wisdom well enough in order to be completely understood. You also have to know how to approach people, how to empower and encourage them, and how to make them feel better about themselves without babying them. You also have to tread the fine line between cloistering people and keeping them away from the wrong path in life, while still giving them the chance to learn on their own by making a few mistakes on their way to greatness.

There are many different ways that you can be a guide to a potential follower, and it all depends on what you aim to do, as well as on how control you are willing to exert. There are three main paths that you may want to take as the guide, and you can do this through mentoring, coaching, or directing. Although these three different types of guidance are often mixed together or interchanged in both conversation and media, there are actually subtle differences amongst them that you need to understand and explore.

In mentoring or mentorship, you are dealing with a relationship between a mentor, who is more experienced, knowledgeable, and wise; and a protégé, who is less experienced, probably (but not always) younger, and sometimes flighty and uncertain. A mentor will often be more prominent than the protégé, or more skilled in a particular field. The mentor is then the teacher of the protégé, and serves as the guide for the protégé to do better in the field. Most often, a mentor will teach by example on the job itself: for instance, a mentor opera singer will have a protégé who the opera singer will take on while the opera singer is at the peak of his or her career, and while the protégé is just starting out. By emulating the opera singer, the protégé will hopefully succeed one day as well.

The information about Mentoring presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Mentoring or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

On the other hand, coaching refers to a guidance process in which a person, acting as a leader, oversees a group of persons, or sometimes even a single person, with the aim of achieving a goal. Coaching differs from mentoring in that a coach will often be out of or done with his or her career already, and will therefore be teaching a younger generation based on his or her experiences. Another difference between coaching and mentoring is that coaching often has only a single goal in mind, while mentoring might be more abstract and widespread in its aims.

Coaching is most popularly seen in sports teams, where a person who has once been a good player is now helping other players to succeed in their game, and with the aim of as many victories as possible for the team. Another popular coaching technique is that of life coaching. In this case, a person is not necessarily dead done with life, and coming back to teach the living. Instead, a person is already successful enough and is probably ready for retirement, but is coaching other people in making their lives start to work. In a variant of life coaching, a person who has already faced all of his or her fears can also coach persons who are still living in fear, helping them to get over their anxieties and emerge as better people.

Lastly, the process of directing involves the instruction of a higher person to that of a lower person. In the mentor and protégé relationship, the mentor acts as a guide, not as someone who makes orders; a guide will steer a student through to the right path, but not point it out directly. In the coach and team relationship, the coach acts as an encouraging person, and even as a trainer, but not as someone who directly tells the team what to do. In directing, a boss-employee relationship would be closer in definition, especially when the higher person is ordering the lower person on how exactly to live his or her life.

This article’s coverage of the information is as complete as it can be today. But you should always leave open the possibility that future research could uncover new facts.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

Movies, Anime, cartoons, and 3D animations, these are modern day entertainment that people could choose from if they are bored or something like it. A lot of people have overlooked the original and classic form of entertainment back when still pictures were the hit. What are these? Comics of course!

Comics used to be the number one form of entertainment, back when TV did not exist yet. Reading comics is like having your own printed out movie. If you have a unique kind of sense of humor, and you like drawing, why not learn to draw comics? This would be very easy and fun at the same time!

Here are some of the things you should consider if you want to start your own comic strip.

What’s The Theme Of Your Comic Strip?

Before you go on drawing in little boxes, determine first the type of comic strip that you want. Do you want a satiric comic? What’s the main theme? Is it about teenage life? Is it about married life? How about school life? Who are your intended readers? Is it about a super hero? Factors like these are important.

Go ahead and brainstorm. If you are having a hard time on picking out a theme, get some inspiration with your surroundings. Observe people that you encounter daily or randomly. Try to come up with something new, fresh, interesting yet everyone could relate to. This would be a good basis of your whole comic strip.

Have Some Characters

Knowledge can give you a real advantage. To make sure you’re fully informed about Learn To Draw, keep reading.

You should also be equipped with a character line up. Have a main character and a couple of supporting characters. Map out the personality of each. Create their profiles, so that they could be unique from each other, yet you have had determined a working relationship for all of them. You do not really have to create a long list of characters. Just be ready with your main and a couple of staple characters. You can always add a new character to the gang in the future once you have a new idea for it.

Now, practice drawing your characters. Draw them in different kinds of facial expressions and actions.

Find A Setting

You should also decide on a specific setting. Would it be during the Jurassic age ala Flintstones? Would you want it to be in a high school, just like Archie? Do you want to have your own imaginary city like Gotham city in the Batman comics? It all depends on your imagination. Once you have all these things settled out, that is the only time that you can start drawing.

Draw Your Panel

The panel refers to the number of boxes you are going to have in one strip. You can have three or four boxes for short strips that usually showcase only one scene or you can have hundreds that cover many pages that usually showcase a whole storyline.

You can start out with short ones, just like the ones you see on your newspaper’s comic page. Have a plot for the scenes along with the dialogues you have in mind. Start plotting how you are going to fit your characters in the boxes, and then draw them. Put dialogue bubbles or boxes and write down their lines or thoughts.

Once you are content with your drawing, put it into ink and erase sketch marks. Add some color if you want to, and you’re done!

That’s how things stand right now. Keep in mind that any subject can change over time, so be sure you keep up with the latest news.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

When you’re learning about something new, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer amount of relevant information available. This informative article should help you focus on the central points.

If you have either a serious interest in astrology, or have simply become curious, there are so many potential resources that you may take a brief look at the seemingly-endless supply and become intimidated. How can a newcomer to the subject of astrology possibly navigate through so much information? The answer is to begin with the basics. If you are a beginner, and uncertain as to what “the basics” consist of, some places are better equipped to provide this information in an easy-to-understand manner than others.

Rob Tillett, of Australia’s Astrology On The Web, has been a practicing astrologer for over three decades. His articles on the Astrology On The Web website begin with the most absolute basics, all clearly written in a manner which is easily understood by anyone, and progresses to much more detailed manners of analyzing. Directed toward those who are newcomers to the subject of astrology, Mr. Tillett
makes it clear that astrology is not a matter of showing a person what is inevitable, but how one’s own free will plays a most deciding role in the events which will eventually come to pass in one’s life. This information will give the beginner a sense of confidence and strength.

Mr. Tillet also explains in clear language about how astrology works. Without complicating the subject or risking confusion for the beginner with unnecessary technical terms, he describes what exists and how everything is connected. Even the most non-technically-inclined newcomer will be able to understand Mr. Tillet’s explanations of astrology and his descriptions of how it all works. His articles on the Astrology On The Web site are definitely the best place as one’s first source of information about astrology.

It seems like new information is discovered about something every day. And the topic of Astrology is no exception. Keep reading to get more fresh news about Astrology.

Astrology On The Web is made up of a team of ten people, all of whom are very well-versed in the field of astrology in general, as well as being experts on a number of related topics, such as numerology and meditation. While the website itself will provide a wide range of general information on all aspects of astrology, you can also order books or personal readings, if you wish. There is also a message forum where you can share information, questions, and insight with other people who have similar interests in astrology and its related fields.

If you are interested in the comparisons and differences between Indian astrology and Western astrology, the Vedic Encyclopedia is an excellent source for this information. From the Vedic Encyclopedia you will first learn that while Western astrology is greatly affected by the modern world, the roots upon which Vedic astrology was initially based are as strong and continuous in the present-day as when this form of astrology first began.

To learn more about Chinese astrology, a good beginning would be to read the books on this subject written by Suzanne White. “The New Chinese Astrology” and “Chinese Astrology Plain and Simple” will give you the best overview of this specific form of astrology.

Whether you have already decided which form of astrology interests you the most, of if you would like to gain a basic understanding of each type in order to decide which suits you the best, these are three very good sources of information.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)

Snakes are probably the reptiles that fascinate and repel us the most. One of the most visited booths at any outdoor show is the reptile area, with the little kids standing around and squealing at one special area – the area where the rattlesnakes are kept. Milking rattlesnakes has been a popular sideshow item for many years at local fairs and county shows. There are about thirty different species of rattlers, and all of them live in America.

Let’s look at these wonderful reptiles and get to know them a little better. The two largest, on average, are the eastern and western diamondbacks. The average length of an adult eastern diamondback is around four feet, and the average length of a western diamondback is about three and a half feet. There are reports of diamondbacks that were more than ten feet, but facing a live rattler may add a few feet to the story. The largest ones that have actually been measured have been just under eight feet long. A six-foot rattler can weigh as much as 11 pounds.

Generally reptiles are not thought of as beautiful animals, but a rattler has many wonderful designs to look at. The eastern diamondback, with a general pattern of grey brown diamonds all along its body, has a raccoon-like black mask over its eyes. The Santa Catalina rattlesnake (found only on Santa Catalina Island) has markings similar to heavy eyebrows above its eyes. Another fascinating feature of a rattler is the pits seen on either side of the face. These are not related to the venom glands, but are organs that detect radiant heat. The snakes use these to detect things that are close by and are warmer than the general surroundings. In this way, the pits can help locate of small animals such as mice. Since these reptiles have poor eyesight, they use the pits and their sense of smell to determine where their next lunch is coming from.

The information about Reptiles presented here will do one of two things: either it will reinforce what you know about Reptiles or it will teach you something new. Both are good outcomes.

The most noticeable feature of the rattlesnake is the rattle itself, and rattles are not found on any other reptiles. The rattles are made of the same material that forms horns, claws, and our fingernails. The “fingernail” at the tip of the tail forms a rattle, and when the snake sheds its skin, this part does not come entirely off, forming a new rattle. A few snakes have been found that have as many as twenty-three rattles on their tail.

Reptiles, and snakes in particular, have very unusual ways to get around. A rattler can use the muscles in its body to push against small irregularities, or bumps, in the surface of the ground. As the snake goes by, each part of the snake pushes against the bump so that it looks like the standard snake “wiggle”. The bumps may not seem very visible to us, and it might just be a slightly thicker than usual clump of grass in a grassy field. But what happens if a western diamondback is caught on a flat rock with nothing to push against? In this case, it uses the scales on its belly, and uses them in the same way a multi-legged caterpillar uses its feet. This motion is much slower, but is also quieter, and is used by rattlers to silently get their prey within striking distance.

This is a short introduction into one of the most absorbing of the reptiles, the rattlers. Visit a rattlesnake exhibit at your local zoo or county fair, and look closely at them and watch their movements. You will be delighted.

Hopefully the sections above have contributed to your understanding of Reptiles. Share your new understanding about Reptiles with others. They’ll thank you for it.

About the Author
By Anders Eriksson (Click on the link to learn more about me)